Given that the majority of passengers traveling on the big Middle Eastern airlines are connecting, these airlines offer stopover packages to encourage passengers to spend a few days within the country before heading to their final destinations. Qatar Airways is one such airline that offers a high-value program at reasonable costs.
The airline has partnered with Discover Qatar to spur tourism in the country and develop Qatar into a destination and not just a transit point. The process of booking the stopover program is relatively simple and can be done directly on the airline’s website when making a new booking. A variety of package options are available for booking that can be combined with tour options as well.
Restrictions to the program are relatively minimal. It’s important to have a ticket issued by Qatar Airways with a minimum transit time of 12 hours in Doha with a maximum of one stopover offer per ticket. Passengers will also need a valid visa to enter the country.
Qatar Airways provides suggested tour options as well, ensuring that there are a variety of activities for people to enjoy while staying in the country.
Some of these include visiting the Al Zubarah Fort, Al Thakira Mangrove forest, and more. Adventure seekers can book activities like kite surfing or ATV rides in the desert.
A more relaxed getaway could be a trip to Our Habitas Ras Abrouq, a luxury resort on the side of the Qatar peninsula facing Bahrain.
The city of Doha itself also offers considerable options from various shopping malls to the Souq, a popular location for tourists and expats alike is the Doha Sands Beach Club. It was created specifically for expats and tourists as a place to unwind and grab a drink, which is something that’s not easy to do in the country. The government has provided special permits to the club to serve alcohol making it a popular spot to stop in for a beer and catch a football game.
Package Options Per Person
Standard Package: passengers can select a 4-star hotel:
- 1 night: From $14
- 2 nights: From $22
- 3 nights: From $47
- 4 nights: From $74
Premium Package: passengers can select a 5-star hotel:
- 1 night: From $23
- 2 nights: From $41
- 3 nights: From $75
- 4 nights: From $108
Premium Beach Package: passengers can select a 5-star hotel with access to Doha Sands Beach:
- 1 night: From $30
- 2 nights: From $55
- 3 nights: From $95
- 4 nights: From $135
Luxury Package: passengers can select a 5-star hotel with breakfast included:
- 1 night: From $81
- 2 nights: From $158
- 3 nights: From $249
- 4 nights: From $340
All-Inclusive Beach Package: passengers can select a 5-star hotel with breakfast and Doha Sands Beach access included:
- 1 night: From $144
- 2 nights: From @283
- 3 nights: From $437
- 4 nights: From $591
All of these offers provide great value and additional add-ons like airport transfers can be purchased. The goal of the stopover program was to provide as low as possible rates for passengers instead of bundling in additional benefits and potentially making the program less accessible to travelers on a budget.
